Journal box



NOV- 13, 1934 D. s. BARRows 1,980,965

JOURNAL BOX Filed Ost. 2, 1929 WW"It A .GE

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UN 'ITED-f STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX Application October 2, 1929,` SerialNo. 396,759"

11 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes and, more particularly, to articulated or two piece lids normally closing the outer openings of said boxes.

The principal object of -my invention, generally considered, is to provide a two piece equalizing lid for closing the journal box opening, said lid preferablyinvolving a'hood or spring housing and a lid proper between which a torsion spring is positioned, said spring having a pair of coils normally seated on the hood, an intermediate loopnormally engaging the hinge lug and depending ends engaging means connecting said lid proper and housing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a two piece lid rin which the actuating spring is positioned between the hood and lid proper with the coils'ofY the spring seated on the hood and theV free ends received in a casting pivoted to a lug on the face of the lid, which casting preferably has its ends receivedin pockets in the lower end of sai-d hood, whereby spring tension is maintained between the elements of the lid assembly.

A further object of my invention is to provide a journal box lid having a hood pivoted thereto adjacent its center for enclosing an associated torsion spring, said spring having coils seated on the hood and extending into depressions inl the face of the lid, an intermediate loop portion being adapted to engage the hinge lug on an asso-- ciated box for holding the lid inY open or closed position, said loop portion being preferably provided with a wear plate or the like formed with outstanding loop portions, and a pin or rivet on the hood passing through said loop portions for` limiting relative movement between said spring and hood.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction ofthe various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is dei-ined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a journal box lid assembly embodying my invention, a portion of the hood or spring housing thereof being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the lid assembly and a fragmentary portion of the associated journal boxon the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure l, lookingin thedirectionof the.arrows.- f

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of l the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevationall View of the upper end of the hood or spring housing showing the bifurcated end of the pin which serves to mount the lid assembly on the box.

Referring to the drawing in detail, likeA parts being designated by like reference characters, a` portion of a journal box l is shown with an ordi-4 nary form of hinge lug 2 extending from the upper wall or roof thereof to which the journall box li-d assembly 3 is pivotally connected as by means of a hinge pin or pintle 4. In the present: embodiment the complete journal boxlid assembly 3 comprises a closure member or lid proper 5, a hood or spring housing member 6, withy con--V necting or equalizing means 7, which equalizing means is preferably pivotally mounted on a 4lug 8 outstanding from the front face of the closure 755 member 5 and desirably received in a pocket Qin the equalizing member 7, said member being movably` or adjustably mounted with respect to the lid or closure member 5 by a pin or rivet 10` passing through said equalizing member '7 and so lug or flange 8. The lower portion or ends l1 of, the hood 6 are desirably formed with pockets or sockets 12 receiving the ends or trunnion portions 13 on the connecting and equalizing casting 7, whereby said hood 6 is adjustably held in assembled relation with respect to the lid 5.

The lid assembly 3 is desirably pivoted to the box'l by means of the pivot pin 4 extending through perforated ears or hinge portions 14011 the hood 6 rather than through corresponding portions on the lid proper. The hinge pin i may be held in locked position in any desired manner as by having the end split or bifurcated and expanded in placein a well known manner. The corresponding lug or bearing portion 14 receiving the expanded end may have the aperture elongated for properly receiving the separated prongs 15 on the pin, whereby when locked in place, turning of the pin with respect to the hood is prevented.

Inorder to provide for resiliently holding the lid in open or closed position, a torsion spring 16 is desirably positioned between the hood 6 and lid proper 5. The spring 16 preferably has a pair of coils or helical portions 17 normally resting on curved seat portions 18 on the housing or hood and an intermediate loop or upwardly extending portion 19 desirably formed with a wear plate 20 or anti-friction device such as a roller (not shown) for engagement with the hinge lug 2 in a normal 11,0

manner. The free ends or depending tails 21 of the spring are desirably received in corresponding pockets or apertures 22 in the connecting casting 7, said apertures being desirably disposed adjacent the ends of the casting 7 or trunnion portions 13 thereon. To avoid the necessity of positioning the hood 6 at too great a distance from the lid 5, that portion of the lid adjacent the coils 17 is preferably normally depressed or pocketed, as indicated at 23, to receive the adjacent portions of said coils. For rigidifying the construction, the lid may be formed with an inwardly extending flange 24 and provided with the usual peripheral flange 25.

In order to limit relative movement between the spring and hood, particularly when the lid assembly is disconnected from the box, the wear plate 20 is desirably formed with outstanding strap or loop portions 26 and the hood 6 preferably has a rivet or pin 27 passing through said loop portions 26 with the desired clearance therebetween for permitting all necessary or desirable movement of the spring while preventing an excessive movement thereof, especially when the lid is removed from the box.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I have provided a two piece, resiliently pressed, self-adjusting or equalizing lid for a journal box, said lid involving a closure portion, a hood or spring housing portion and a connecting or equalizing portion, a torsion spring being preferably received between the hood and closure portion of the lid assembly. On account of the tails of the spring being received in the connecting or equalizing member, and the equalizing member being pivoted on the front face of the lid proper, and the hood and equalizing member being interlocked, all parts of the lid assembly are held in proper relation one with another, while at the vsame time, a limited amount of necessary equalizing movement of the lid proper or closure member is permitted, whereby a substantially equal pressure between the lid and the box is maintained around the entire periphery thereof. On account of the upper or looped end of the spring carrying a loop or retainer interlocked with the hood, the spring is prevented from being displaced with respect to said hood even when the lid is removed from the box, whereby the lid assembly may be shipped as a unit.

Although I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is merely illustrative and that modications may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood and a lid proper, equalizing means pivoted to said lid proper at approximately the center of the latter and having end portions normally engaging the hood to hold the parts in assembled relation, and resilient means engaging the hood intermediate said end portions, and the equalizing means and hinge lug respectively at opposite ends thereof.

2. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood and a lid, an equalizer, a pivot member passing transversely through and connecting said equalizer to said lid for angling about the axis of said member, said equalizer having its ends interlocked with the lower end of said hood to hold the parts in assembled relation, and resilient means disposed between said hood and lid, engaging the lug and equalizer means respectively at its upper and lower ends, and the hood intermediate said ends.

3. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a two piece lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood pivoted to said lug, a closure member, and an equalizing device connecting said hood and closure member, said closure member being formed with a lug received ina pocket in said equalizing device, means pivotally connecting said device to said lug, and resiiient means disposed between said lid and hood and engaging said equalizing device and hood and adapted to engage angularly disposed portions on the hinge lug for holding the lid in open or closed position.

4. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a two piece lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood pivoted to the lug adjacent its upper edge and to an intermediate member adjacent its lower end, a lug extending from the outer face of the lid proper, and means pivotally mounting said intermediate member on said lug, resilient means disposed between said hood and lid proper and engaging said lug for holding the lid in open or closed position, and means on the resilient means for limiting movement with respect to said hood.

5. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood and lid proper, means movably connecting said hood and lid proper adjacent the center of the latter, and a torsion spring disposed between said connected members and comprising a wire formed into a pair of coils seated on the hood, a loop portion extending upwardly therebetween and normally engaging the hinge lug, the ends of said wire extending downwardly from the coils and engaging said connecting means between the hood and lid proper, and anti-friction means mounted on the loop portion of said spring and provided with extensions interloclred with respect to the hood for limiting relative movement therebetween.

6. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood and a lid proper, a connecting casting, and pivot means connecting said casting to said lid proper adjacent the center thereof,the lower end of said hood being pivotally mounted on said casting.

7. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid assembly mounted thereon and comprising a lid proper, a spring housing, an equalizer casting, and pivot means connecting said equalizer casting to said lid proper at the approximate center of the latter, the lower end of said housing and casting being interlocked,

and a torsion spring with a plurality of coilsseated in the housing, a loop portion of the spring between the coils normally engaging the lug, and the lower ends of said spring disposed in receptacles in said equalizer casting.

8. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a spring housing and lid proper, resilient means disposed between said housing and lid proper, and a wear plate mounted on the upper end of said resilient means and formed hood and lid proper, a lug extending outwardly from the front face of the lid proper, an equalizer member with a pocket receiving said lug, pivotal means connecting said equalizer member and lug, the lower end of said hood being formed with pockets receiving extensions on said equalizer member, and resilient means held between said hood and lid, formed with an upward extension adapted to engage an associated portion of a journal box, and lower extensions received in pockets in said equalizer member.

10. A two piece journal box lid comprising a hood adapted to be connected to an associated journal box, a closure member, and an equalizing member connecting said closure member and hood, pivot means connecting said equalizing member to said closure member at the approximate center of ,the latter, and resilient means disposed between said closure member and hood, engaging said hood with its lower ends disposed in receptacles in said equalizing member and adapted to engage portions on an associated box for holding the lid in open or closed position.

l1. In combination, a journal box, a lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood and a lid proper, an equalizing member, resilient means disposed between said hood and lid proper and acting on said member, and means passing through said member, connecting it to said lid proper, and providing a transverse pivot about which said member can rotate, the lower end of said hood being movably connected to said equalizing member.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

